Home Safety Precautions

• Place an alarm mat at the side of the Bed, use an infrared sensor beam to Sound an alarm when a person crosses it, or attach a monitor to clothing.
• For anyone who is a exit seeker, lower the bed height by removing casters, box springs, or legs; place the dresser at the end of the bed.
• Put in a monitor to listen to activity in the room of the person in your care. (Most are inexpensive and are portable.)
• Make the bedroom bright and cheerful.
• Make sure the temperature is comfortable and fresh air is available. 65° F at night is ideal.Provide a firm mattress.
• Provide TV and radio.Think about having a fish tank for fun and relaxation.
• Be sure it is secure and the person in your care cannot knock it over by accident.
• Use throwaway pads to protect furniture.
• Install blinds or shades that darken the room.Place closet rods 48” from the floor.Provide a chair for dressing.Keep a flashlight at the bedside table.
• Provide a bedside commode with a 4” foam pad on the seat for comfort.Hang a bulletin board with pictures of family and friends where it can be easily seen.
• Provide a sturdy chair or table next to the bed for help getting in and out of bed.
• Make the bed 22” high and place it securely against a wall. Or use lockable wheels. This will allow the person to get up and down safely.Use blocks to raise a bed’s height, but be sure to make them steady so they don’t move.
  
  

• Remove spices or medicines from the countertops and keep cleaning supplies in a locked place.
• Remove scissors and knives from countertops and drawers. A person with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease may hurt himself or others with these dangerous items.
• Remove all items that cause confusion.
• Disguise the garbage disposal switches.
• Put all the garbage out of sight.
• Put labels on the cabinets.
• Install a shut-off valve (for a gas stove) or a circuit breaker for an electric stove so you can disable it when you leave the kitchen.
• Remove burner knobs and tape the stems or install knob covers.
• Use a lock-out switch on the electric range so it can’t be turned on except by you.Use an aluminum cover over the top of the stove, or use burner covers.
• Replace the pilot on a gas stove with an electric starter.
• Lock the oven door.Use safety latches on doors and cabinets.
• Install gates, door, or Dutch doors so the kitchen can be closed off but you can still see and be seen.
• Install an automatic turn-off on the faucet.
• Install a governor on the hot water faucet (or turn down the valve under the sink) to control the amount of water that can be used.
• For a faucet spout that swings outside the sink itself, install a brace that keeps water in the sink at all times.
• Hide or get rid of dangerous small appliances.
• Turn off appliances by unplugging them, turning off circuit breakers, or removing fuses.
• Install smoke detectors (but not near the stove).Use an electric tea kettle that has an automatic shutoff.
• Use a single-lever faucet that can balance water temperature.
• Provide an area away from the knife drawer and the stove where the person in your care can help prepare food.
• Ask the gas company to modify your stove to provide a gas odor that is strong enough to alert you if the pilot light goes out.Provide a step stool, never a chair, to reach high shelves.

The Bathroom

• It is difficult to get in and out of a tub enclosed with glass doors. A shower curtain may make life simpler.
• Nonskid decals will make the tub less slippery and may even provide a useful distraction at bath time.
• When the person in your care is no longer able to stand firmly and confidently in the shower, a shower bench can help provide safety and security in the tub as well as the shower.
• Clear out or lock the medicine chest and the cabinet under the sink where poisonous substances are kept.
• If the person with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease shaves, a cordless rechargeable electric razor is safest.
• A safety razor should only be used with supervision.
• A raised toilet seat that has handrails will make it easier to get up and down.
• Replace an uncomfortable hard toilet seat with a soft, cushiony one.
• A shut-off mechanism and a mechanism to control water temperature in sink, tub, and shower can help prevent accidental flooding and burns.
• Put screens over open drains.Put wastebaskets out of sight.  (Otherwise, a person with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s may urinate in them or remove things from them.)
• Have no electrical cords dangling near the washbasin.
• Install an automatic hot and cold water mixer.If possible, have the toilet seat and washbasin in a contrasting color to the floor.
• Cover sharp edges with rubber cushioning.
• Put lights in the medicine cabinets so mistakes are not made when giving medicine. People with mild to moderate AD should not be taking medications themselves.
• Remove locks on bathroom doors.Use nonskid safety strips or a nonslip bath mat in the tub or shower.
• Think about putting a grab rail on the edge of the vanity. (Do not use a towel bar.)
• Remove glass shower doors or replace them with unbreakable plastic or a shower curtain.
• Use only electrical appliances with a ground fault interrupted (GFI) feature.
• Install GFI electrical outlets.
• Set the hot water thermostat below 120° F.Use faucets that mix hot and cold water, or paint hot water knobs/faucets red.Insulate (cover) hot water pipes to prevent burns.